it has seemed best to me to inform your Majesty, inasmuch as I have
undertaken to institute a reform. This, please God, will be made with
energy, as in breaking open a package. When the correctives usual
in this region (which are mild) do not suffice, I will propose to
your Majesty other and more severe measures, which might be adopted
by the Council, and one might be of sufficient advantage to your
Majesty. However, it were not advisable to discuss this, but that
the necessity of the public government demands it and invokes it,
since only at such times can it be called just or used as an argument.

I consider your Majesty's permit in regard to the money going to the
Philipinas as liberal and beyond the excess of what is carried as
contraband, which is a very large amount. It is almost impossible to
put a stop to this, notwithstanding that I do not give permission,
expressed or tacit, in that commerce for one real more than the
amount allowed; and I have ordered vigorous investigations on this
point at the time of the despatch of the vessels. But if it is easy
to hide the money, there is little to fear in the penalties, although
orders are given that they be executed. Accordingly, in case of the
cloth that can be brought to and unloaded at Acapulco, I think that,
as it has bulk, it can be locked up in some warehouse and examined,
or (which would be more efficacious), that no limit be placed on the
use of this class of goods in Nueva España, so that those persons whom
the viceroy considers needy might not be restricted in wearing it. I
fear greatly that in the case of the money, as it is so easy to hide,
no sufficient reform can be instituted for this evil, as I see that
there is no remedy in other things of like nature, either in the armed
ships or the trading vessels from those kingdoms. There, however,
is less damage; for this is all in money which goes to infidels and
never returns, and thus militates against this country, and that